Antifriction center-bearing.



f.. s. woons. ANTIIBIGTION- CENTER BEARING.

. APPLIVGATIQB FILBDBEPLB., 1907. Patented June 20 E. s. woons. ANTIFRIGTION CENTER BEARING. APPLICATION FILED BBPT 3 190| 'Patented June 20,1911,

lll.

EDWIN S. WOODS, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ATIFRICTION CENTER-BEARING.

Specicationof Letters Patent. i Patented June 20, 1911.

Application led' September 3, 1907. Serial No. 391,039.

.To all whom 'it may concern: -V

`Beit known that I, EDWIN S. llloons, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain, new and usefulv Improvements in Antifriction Center-Bearings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and .exact cle-- scription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. V

This invention relates to im rovelnents in antifriction bearings designed to bc interposed between t-wo parts, which are arranged 1n substantially parallel relation with each other, and whici are capable of limlted relatlve oscillatory movement, 1n order to transmit a load from one of said parts to the other in such manner as to min miizc the friction between the same in the relative oscillation of `said parts.

My improved antifriction bearing is particularly adapted for use as a center bearing between the truck and body bolster of a railway ca`r and in analogous situations, and is herein illustrated and is speciticall described as .applied to that use. though 1t will be understood that certain features of my device may be appliedfvto other uses. 4

Heretofore bearings of this nature have generally been provided with ant-ifriction elements, such as. cones, balls or other forms.

of rollers having annular bearing surfaces for rolling contact with the upper and lower members between .which they-'are placed, soI

that they are individually adapted for com pletev rotation upon extended turning movement of one of said members-relativelyto the other. The antifrict'ion elements or rollers of such bearings have been usually placed in as close relation to each other as their circular cross-sectional form permitted, in order to obtain a maximum carrying capacity in the bearing. These'bearingsihave proved unsatisfactory for sustaining aih'aavy load such, for example, as is carried bythe center plates on the body and truck of. a modern railroad car, where both the diameter of the'fcenter plates and the availableV height are restricted by the fixed condition' revailing car designs. g e relative horizontal oscillation of carv center plates is comparatively limited, sel;

from the axis of the cen-ter plates, to Vturn S through an arc equal to but about {L1-,- of its clrcumference, whleh would represent lts greatest amplitude of oscillatory movement. It is usually desirable to use' antifriction elementsof the greatest permissible radial dimension or height, as the carrying capacity of the individual elements increases with their height or effective diameter. Consid-` ering a cross-section of an antifriction element-through its bearing or contact surface.

taken in aplanef'at right angles to its axis of oscillation. it will be apparent that those parts of said section which lie laterally withouttlle spaceincluded or inclosed between the upper and lower arcs on which said section rolls during an oscillation of the greatest required'amplitude and approximately straight lines connectingl the ends of said arcs, perform no function in load transmission, and are therefore useless.` It followsY that the part of the cross-section of the antifriction element included by or within the up r and lower arcs on which said section rol s during an oscillation of the greatest required amplitude and defined laterally by right lines connecting the ends of the-said arcs, (and-which forms in effect the area of load transmission), may properly be termed the section of transmission, and `I will so refer to' it throughout my specification and claims. j f

A principal feature of my invention consists 1n so forming and arranging the antifriction elements that each element in the formof its cross-section taken through its bearing or contact surfaces in a plane `gerpendicularto its axis of oscillation, correysp'ond's substantially with its section of transmission and each element is placed in close relation with the antifriction elements at either side of it, thus multiplying the sus,-

. taining capacity of the bearing by the ratio, which the height of thesection of transmisl its contact or bearing surfaces. This" 1C' cases, a part of t-he material which lies with vin the section of transmission, as above de-' fined, may also be omitted, particularly that part, the removal of Awhich will vnot materially lessen the strength of the antifrictionl element.

The antifriction elements in a bearing embodying my invention are characterized by features of construction, shape and relation which may be stated in general terms as follows: Said antifriction elements are arranged between said bearing members in circular order with the horizontal axes, on

bers and, in the case of a center bearing,

r with said axes radial to a common vertical axis which coincides with the axis of oscillation oftheupper and lower bearing members. Each antifriction element has top and bo'ttom bearing surfaces for Contact with bearing surfaces on the upper and lower bearing members, the co-acting bearing suraces in t-he antifriction elements and, the bearing members being relatively so shaped or formed as to afford rolling movement of ach antifriction element on each of the twor caring members, and rocking movement of e antifriction elements themselves, when the upper and lower bearing members are relatively turned or oscillated, whilemaintaining constant the vertical distance between the upper and lower bearing members.

Each antifriction element is flattened or cut away at its sides, 4so that its width is substantially less than its height; its form in cross-section, taken through its bearing surfaces and at right angles toits axis of oscillation, approximating the section of trans. mission hereinbefore referred to.

The antifriction elements maybe greatly varied in their general form or shape, provided it be such as to permit them to be nested closely together, while at the same time admitting of ample rocking or oscillating movement thereof to provide for the necessary relative oscillatory movement of the upper and lower bearing members, without such contact of said antifriction elements with each other, as would result in the jamming or locking of said antifriction elements. .By the use of these features of construction I am enabled toflargely-increase the number of antifriction elements associated" with bearing-plates of a given diameter, and tol-'thereby correspondingly increase the carrying capacity of the bearing as comtional form and individually equal in loadcarrying capacity to those of 'my improved bearin ,y K

It will thus be seen that I have devised yan antifriction bearing, which, when applied to the center plates of railway cars, for example, permits of Supporting within given limits of diameter and height, loads of from two to three times the magnitude' which it has heretofore been possible to sustain; and this forthe reason that my invention permits of inclosing 'within and height, antifriction elements possessing iven limits of diameter from two to three times as much load-carrying capacity ashas heretofore been possible.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an axial vertical section of a center bearing embodying my invention.. Fig. 2 is a 'top plan view thereof with the upper mem- "which they turn or oscillate in their rocking movement, located between the bearing member or body bolster plate removed. Fig. 3 is an end view showing a plurality of adjacent ant-ifriction elements used in the construe tion shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a like view showing the antifriction elements in changed positions. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the antifriction elements removed from the other parts. Fig. 6 is an end elevation showing a modified form of antifriction element. Fig. 7 is a. like view of a further modification.' Fig. 8 is a like view showing a still further modification. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the antifriction element shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is an end elevation ofl a plurality of bearing elements of another form. Fig. 11 is an axial vertical section of a modified form of bearing, embracing a two-part cover or top member.

As shown in `said drawings, 10 designates the upper member and11 the lower member `of a car center bearing, these parts being preferably made of cast metal'.r Said upper and lower bearing members are provided with apertured marginal flanges 12 and 13, and are adapted to be secured to the body and truck bolsters (not shown) by bolts or rivets extending through the apertures of said flanges. `The said members are shaped to form between'them a chamber to receive the antifriction' .bearing elements through the medium of which the load is transmitted from thev upper to the lowerbearing member. Said chamber is annular in form and the upper and lower walls thereof, formed on the lower'surface of the upper member and the upper surface of the lower member, respectively,'constitute bearing surfaces 14 and 15 with which the upper and lower bearing faces of the antifriction elements have rolling contact or engagement.' The said upper and lower bearing members are also provided lwith vertically alined central openings 16 and-17, respectively, to receive the usual king-pin ,or bolt .that connects the In the accompanying drawings,` are .shown some of the forms ofl antifrict-ion elements in which the features hereinbeforeset forth may' be embodied in practice; -all of the forms illustrated embracing, in common, the following features: The top and bottom -bearing Vsurfaces of4 said ant-ifriction Aelements are transversely curved, with a convex curvature, and such convexly curved sur-V faces are extended in the direction of the axis of oscillation of the antifriction elef ments, or radially'of the bearing plate center, soas to aiiordbearing-contact of the antifriction members against the bearing members on lines radial to the central, vertical'axis of the said bearing members, whilel the flattened or`cut away sides of said antifriction elements converge inwardly toward the said vertical axis, so that the side faces of adjacent elements are substantially parallel with each other. 'The elements thus made are arranged in such closely'spaced relation 'as to be in contact laterally with-each other,

so that each element tends to hold the others, in operative position, and oscillatory movement may be transmitted from. one element to theother ofthe series. Moreover, the flattened or cut away sidesI of the a-ntifriction elements are so spaced as to provide movement-limiting stop surfacesI to restrict the total extent of rocking or' oscillatory movement thereof. In the specific example' illustrated by the drawings, said antifrictlon elements are elongated radially, or in the direction of theiraxes of oscillation, while their convexly curved bearing surfaces are uniformly tapered inwardly or toward the central axis of the bearing plates, so that they have the form of conical segments, while the bearing or contact faces 14 and 15 of the beariiig plates are uniformly in` clined or `of conical form, and correspond in inclination with the inclination or taper f 45 of the top and bottom bearingsurfaces of n.elements illustrated in Figs. .1 ,and 2, and

shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the antifriction elements, designated by the reference character 18 are adapted for use with the particular form of bearing pla-tes, -having bearing faces 14 and 15 of conicall shape, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 11, and are char,v

acterized, in addition to the general features.,4v

hereinbefore referred to, by the following features of construction: Each of said antifriction elements has upper and lower bearing surfaces 25, 25 which, considered with respect to a cross-section of the element taken 'ICIy in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rota- Vtion of the element is arc-shaped or transversely curved with a convex curvature, an the curves of which have a common center lying within the cross-section of the element. Longitudinally ofthe elementsaid bearin surfaces are inclined relatively to the axis o rotationofthe element, with uniform inthe form of `a conicalsegmenL-tapering `toward the inner end of the element. In Athis particular form ofV antifriction element, therefore, the bearing surfaces thereof have Contact with the inclined bearin faces 14 .and 145, of the members `10 and 11,1n straight .radial lines, as in the case of conicairollers 'interposed between like" bearing members.

The flattened sides of said anti'friction `elements are fashioned to provide three longitudinally disposed, "transversely convex, lateral surfaces 26, 27, and two intermediate longitudinally dis `osed,transversely concave surfaces 28, 28; hen the antifriction elements are inv theirnormal or central` sitions, as shown in Fig. 3, the convex sur aces clinat-iOn, so that each bearing surface has` of one engage ythe corresponding convex surfaces of contiguous antifriction elements, thus admitting of a close spacing or nesting thereof,'a11d limited areas of contact; "T`Moreover, the contour of the side facesogf said' antifriction elements 18 is Asuch that said faces constitute," when the elementsgfassume their greatest inclination from their vvnormal or central position, stops for arresting the further movement of said ant-ifriction elements, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be evident that the iiattening o'r cutting away of the sides of the antifriction elements reduces the distance from the lines of contact between adjacent antifriction elements and the axes of oscillation thereof, as compared with a roller which is circular in crosssectional form. As shown in Fig; 6 the cross-sectionall form of the antifrictional elements 3 is Jdefined by c onvexly curved lines, which indivcate the transverse curvature of the upper and lower bearing surfaces 31, 31, and said lines are joined by straight lines,-wliich indicate the side faces 32, 32 of said elements. The latter construction admits of `a somewhat -closer spacing of the. antifriction elementsand a larger increase of bearing contact as compared with` the first-"described construction. 1

In the construction shown in Fig; 7, 'the antifriction elements 35 are generally -triangular in cross-sectional form. In this instance each element has a `transversely curved short bearing surface 36 anda transvversely curved longer bearing surface 37.

antifriction element of ample mass and ment transversely curved and of concave form, thereby forming a series of shallow tions between such shallow recesses, serving `verging sidefsurfaces 38, 38. Thev antifric- :designed to be arranged in alternate relation, with the short-bearing surface BG of one. facing in the same direction as the antifriction element.

. or rolling movement of said antifriction ele- .A

6, inclusive. As shown in said Fig. 10, said lantifriction elements are designated by the zcornprising a central portion 55 defined by Thesebearing surfaces are joined by dition elements of'this cross-sectional formare longer lbearing surface 37 of an adjacent In this construction, therefore, a portion of each yantifr-iction element extends in all positions of the elements within the 4projected plan of the nexta'djacent antifriction element. This arrangement ofv the antifriction elements admits close spacing to bring their sections of transmission closetogether, while preserving an strength, and also admits of rample rocking ments, without jamming or binding of the same in their extreme positions of oscillation. In connection with antifriction elements having this cross-sectional form, as well as the others described, yone of the bearing members, in the instance shown, the lower member 11, may haveitscontact or bearing surface 39 for each antifriction elerecesses or depressions in the bearing member; theradially extending ribs or projecto prevent lateral shifting of the antifric-` tion elements.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a modification of the cross-sectional form of antifriction element illustrated in Fig. 7, applied to an elongated and uniformly tapered antifriction clement such as shown in Figs. 1 to 5. In this instance, the bearingsurfa-ces, in Contact between adjacent antifriction elements, are of veryA small or limited area. As shown in said figures, 4Q, 42 designate the antifriction elements, each having a transversely short curved bearing surface 43 and a transverselyT llonger curved bearing surface 44, joined by generally flattened oblique side faces 45, 45. The side faces of said antifriction elementsare formed with longitudinally disposed ribs or elevations forming transversely convex surfaces 46. the ribs on adjacent elements being adapted for contact with each other. v

In Fig. 10 is shown an ant-ifriction lelement in cross-sectional form corresponding generally with that illustrated in Figsfllto reference character 5() and are provided with upper and 'lower transversely curved bearing surfaces 51, 52, which are joined by l side faces, each in its cross-sectional form parallel, straight lines, and portions 54, 54

the upper and lower bearing surfaces 51, 52.

In this cross-sectional form, the central portion of the antifriction element is made laterally narrow, while the upper and lower sides flare outwardly from said narrow central portion to their intersection with the upper and lower transversely curved surfaces. lVhen said antifriction elements 50 are `swung to ytheir maximum throw, the oblique lateral surfaces 54, 54 vof Athe conti'guous faces Vof the adjacent elements come in contact with each other, and constitute,

stopsacting to limit the total throw of said antifriction elements,'in the manner indi'- cated in dotted lines in Fig. 10. In this construction, as in that shown in Figs.. 3 and 4, the adjacent antifriction elements are iadapted for meshing engagement with each other at their sides, a` projecting part of one section taken at right angles -to their axes of oscillation, it is to .be observed. that the bearing surfaces of said elements, adapted for rolling'contact with the bearing members 10 and l1, need not necessarily have the form of conical segments (as is the case with the particular construction 'shown in Figs. l, 2, 5, t) and 11), but `may be of other desired or preferred form, and maybe adapted to operate i'n connection with bearing plates or members having bearing faces for contact with the antifriction elements of other than the uniformly inclined or conical form illustrated. As, for instance, in the case of the forms illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 9 and 11,- ,the taper or convergence of the bearingr faces of the antifrictibn 'element is uniform Aand the co-acting contact surfaces of the bearing members are uniformly inclined or of coniradially extended or line 'contact with said-f'v bearing faces df the bearing-members; the

only essential feature of my invention, ini

its. broader aspect, residing in the form of the antifriction element, considered with respect to the cross-section of the same,

taken on a plane perpendicular to its'axis.

of oscillation'and passing through ther bearing surfaces of theantifriction elements 65 which are defined by oblique lines and meet*l that are in rolling contact with the upper the antifriction elements.

and lower bearing members; it being manifest that the improved results stated are due to such cross-sectional form of the said antifriction elements, and are not necessarily de in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, as the normal relation thereof and is maintained in all positions of In the construction shown in the other figures thisrelation exists when the antfriction elements arev rocked or oscillated from their central or neutral It wil be observed* that the carrying caositions.

ments act mutually upon each other in such' manner as to hold them in operative positign and maintain them always in their noral parallel relatiom Said antifriction elei 'ments may be made of .other forms than those herein illustrated, so long as the essentiallaws of their structure and operation fare observed, to provide-a substantiallyT increased bearing capacity within the limited space available, as compared `with vantifrict1on elements of full .circular and'like crosssection. n

The term flattened 1, or cut away as herein employed is intended. 'to `cover broadly all of the forms of antifriction elements herein illustrated, as well as others which operate on the general principle herein disclosed and set forth in the claims, and in which the cross-sectional form of theantn friction element corresponds with its section of transmission, regardless of the particu? lar shape of their side faces, and regardless of the shape in other respects ofthe elements as a whole or of the bearing or contact surfaces thereof.

`As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 9 and 11, devices arelshc 'nfor loosely holding or retaining the ant-ifriction elements in place as follows: Said antifriction .aelementsfaare looselyT connted, at'their inner ends with a retaining ring 20 which surrounds the c en tral openings of the upper andlower bearlng members and occupies the space between the upper and'lower parallel faces 21, 22`of l ping annular relation of the antifriction elements isshown ange said'members, radially inside of the inclined or conical bearing surfaces of said members. For this purpose, said inner ends of the antifriction elements are reduced in cross-section and are provided with apertures 23 through whichare inserted. a rod which forms said retaining ring, the rod having itse ends joined or secured togetherin any suitable manner. As shown in Figs. 1 and 11, the upper and lower members 10 and 11 of the bearin are provided with overlapanges 60, 61, respectively, theV 60 of the upper member fitting out-` side of the flange ofthe lower member. The

vflange of the lower member is. thickened at its lower side adjacent to the lower bearing surface 15 to constitute an inwardly facing annular thrustshoulder 62 that is designed for contact with the larger ends of the antifriction elements to receive the end thrust of friction elements and terminates short of the centers of said ends or the axes of the antifriction elements so as to decrease the bearing `contact between said parts under the oscillatin action of the antifriction elements an to prevent, to an extent, any tendency of the anti'friction elements to get out of radial position and therefore to bind.

The shortening of the annular thrust shoulder inY this manner decreases the resistance oliered to the turning of the antifriction elements o diminishing the friction due to the turning motion. A s shown in these figu'res of the drawings, moreover, a spacing ring 65, is located between the marginal parts of the bearing members and surrounds the outer ends of the antifriction elements,

and ,said antifriction elements are provided with trunnions or pivotstuds 66, (shown in Figs. 5 and9), which enter suitably spaced apertures in said' ring.

In the construction shown in Fig. 11, I have shown a form of bearing wherein the upper bearing member, designated as a whole by the reference character 70, is made of two parts, to wit,an upper or outer i part 71, and an inner or lower part 7 2.` The i 'part 71 of the upper member 1s designed to e fastened to the body bolster in the same movement of `which need not folldw the total movement of said upper member or cover. Thus the said lower part of the upper member may travel with the antifriction ele-- ments until the latter are locked from further oscillation, after which the upper part of said upper member may rotate with a sliding friction against the lower part thereof. In the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the upper and lower members of the bearing are so arranged relatively to. each' other and to the centrally located king-pin, that said parts may have such freedom of movement as to permit a slight lateral shifting of the upper member from its normally parallel relation to the lower member, due to the tipping of the bolster,- allowed by clearance between the bodyA and truck side bearings,

While, at the same time, maintaining good contact of the bearing parts. Thus in Fig.A

1l, the full lines show the normal position of the upper member, while the dotted lines showtheposition thereof after the bolster has tipped slightly, in the manner indicated. This is ell'ected by providingclearance between the marginal parts of the upper and lower-members of the bearing and between said upper member and the kingpin or bolt 7 5 which extends through the central openings of said bearing members.

I claim as m invention 1. An antifrlction bearing comprisin relatively oscillatory bearing members an an interposed series of closely spaced, radially disposed, antifriction elements, all of which are adapted to oscillate on axes located intermediate said bearing members, the cross-section of each antifriction element taken at right angles to its axis of oscillation, approximating its section of transmission. l

2. An antifriction bearing comprising relatively oscillatory bearing members and an interposed series of closely spaced, radially disposed, antifriction elements, all of which are adapted Ato oscillate on axes located intermediate said bearing members, the

-crosssection Aof each antifriction element taken at right angles toits axis of oscillation, being greater in one direction than in a direction at ri ht angles thereto.

An anti riction bearing comprising vof oscillation, approximating its section of transmission.A I

.: 4. Anl antifriction ,bearingV comprising relatively oscillatory bearing members and an interposed series of annularly arranged, closely spaced, antifrictionelements,all of which are adapted to oscillate on axes radial to the axis of oscillation of said bearing members, and which have rolling contact at thelr top and bottom surfaces with said bearing members, the cross-'section of each antifriction element, taken at right angles to its axis of oscillation, being-of greaterl height than width.

5. An antifriction bearing comprising relatively oscillatory bearing members and4 an interposed series of annularly arranged, ant-ifriction elements, all of which are adapted to oscillate on axes radial to the central axis of said bearing members and which have rolling contact at their top and bottom surfaces with .said bearing members, the cross-section of each antifriction element,

taken at right angles to its axis of oscillation, approximating its section of transmission, each element being adapted to extend into the projected plan of the next adjacent element.

6. An antifrictin bearing comprising relatively oscillatory bearing members and an interposed series of-annularly arranged, closely spaced, antifriction elements, all of lwhich are adapted to oscillate simultaneously on axes radial to the axis of 'oscillation of said bearing members, and which have rolling contact at their top and bottom surfaces with said bearing members, said antifriction elements being flattened at their side faces, so that the cross-section -of each element, taken at right angles to its Vaxis of oscillation, approximates its section of transmission, and the flattened side faces of each element converging toward the center of oscillation of said bearing members.

7. An antifriction bearing comprising relatively oscillatory bearing members and an interposed series of annularly arranged antifriction elements, all of which areadapted to oscillate simultaneously on axes radial Y to the axis of oscillation of saidl bearing members and which have rolling contact at their top and bottom surfaces with said bearing members, the cross-section of each antifriction element taken at right angles to members and which have rolling contact at their top and bottom surfaces 4with said hearing members, the cross-section of each antifriction element, taken at right angles to masas its axis of oscillation, approximating its section of transmission an are maintainedm operative position by their lateral 4engagement with each other..-

1-9. An antifriction bearing comprising relatively oscillatory bearing members and an interposed series of a'nnularly arranged antifriction elements', all of lwhich are ada ,ted to oscillate simultaneously on axes radial to the axis of oscillation of said bearing members and which have rolling contact at their top and bottom surfacesrwith said bearing members, said ant-ifrictiome'lements being flattened at their side faces and the iat' tened side faces of adjacent antifriction elements being disposed generally parallel with eac'l other. v

10. An antifriction bearing comprising relatively oscillatory bearing members and.

an interposed series of annu rly arranged closely spaced, antifriction elements, all Yolli which are adalpted to oscillate simultaneously' on axes radia to the axis of oscillation of said bearing members and which have rolling contact at their top. and bottom surfaces with said bearing members, thecross-section of each. antlfriction element takenat right angles to its-axis ofoscillation approxi.- mating its section of transmissiomand the side faces o`f each element being provided with ,transversely convex bearing surfaces.

11. An antifriction bearing comprisin 'relatively oscillatory bearing members an an interposed series ofannularly arra ed closelyl spaced, antifriction elements, al of which are ada ted to oscillate simultaneously on axes -radia to the axis of oscillation .of

' .said bearing members and which V have .roll

ing Contact at their'top and bottom surfaces with said bearing members, the cross-section ofea'ch antifriction element taken .at right angles to its axis of oscillation approximatmgits section of transmission, and

sa'id elements being 'provided at their side faces with stopsfor limiting the .rocking or rolling movement thereof.

v.tion elements, oscillate simultaneously on axes radia' to the 12. An antifriction bearing comprising upper and lower relatively oscillatory bearin members and an interposed series of an-V ma l arranged; closely spaced, ant1fr1c'y all'of whlch .are ada ted to axisofoscillation of said bearing members, and which have rolling contact at their top and Vbottom surfaces with said bearing members, the-crosssection of eachelement taken 4 sessuali" 'oscilla at right angles toits axis of oscillation approxunating its section of transmission and each antifrictionelement bemg adapted to n limit the movement of the next adjacent elef ment.

antifriction i beari/ ng lcomprising .beari members an 5 an interposed se of ann'u arly arranged,-

said elements being spaced so closely together that the elements `with each other..

closely spaced; antifriction elements, all of which areA adapted ito oscillate simultaneously on axes radial to the axis of oscil1a- 4 tion of said bearing members and lwhich have rolling Contact at their top and bot tom surfaces with said bearing members, the cross-sectionv of each antifrlction element 'taken at right angles to its Vaxis of oscillation approximating its sect-ion of transmission, and each element bein adapted for meshing engagement at its si e face with the side yofthe next adjacent antifriction element.'

14.1 An antifriction bearing comprising relativelyoscillatory bearin members and an interposed series'of annu arly arran ed, closely spaced, antifriction elements,'al of whichareadapted to oscillate simultanesurfaces'with said bearing members, said antifrictionl elements having a width less than the diameter of a circle whose circumference is tangent to thebearing surface of said members.

15. An antifriction bearing comprisin relatively oscillatory-bearing members, an

an interposed series of annularly4 arranged, closely spaced,'antifriction elements which.. have ro'lling contact at their top and bottom 'surfaces with said bearing members,` the cro'issssection of each antiriction element app'r imatingits section of transmission.

1?@ An antifriction bearing comprisin relatively oscillatory bearing members, an an interposed series of/'annularly arranged, inwardly tapered, antifriction e1ements,-each adapted to extend into `the projected plan of the next adjacent antifriction element.

17. An antiriction bearing comprisin relatively oscillatory bearing members, an

., ously -on axes radial to the axis of oscillaj tion.. of said bearing membersV and which 'have rolling -contact at their top andV bottom an" interposed series of annularly arranged,

inwardly tapered antifriction elements, having their 'sections of transmission closely aps preached. l

18. An antifriction bearing comprisin relatively oscillatory bearing members, an

an interposed 'series .ofannularly arranged, inwardly ta ered, antifriction elements, each provided Wlth top andbottom bearing surfaces forrolling 'contact with said bearing members and flattened or cut away at its sides, said elements being spaced with their 19.'An antifriction bearing comprisin relatively oscillatoryy bearing members, an an 4interposed series of annularlyl arran ed closely spaced, antifrictiomelements, a1 of l which are adapted tooscillate simultanef ously on axes radial to the axis of osclllaflattened' sides close together'and parallel tion of Vsaid"bearingmembers, and which have rolling -contactat' and surfaces'wlth said bearing members, said bearing'memliers beingattened orcut away V130 'closely spaced, antifriction elements, allo .at theirI sides to form inwardly converging side faces and means loosely connecting the inner ends of said antifrietion elements.

20. vAn antifriction bearing compri-sing relatively oscillatory bearing members and an interposed series of annular-ly arranged, closely spaced, antifriction elements, all of which are adapted to oscillate simultaneously on axes radial to the axis of oscillation of said bearing members, and which have rolling contact at their top and bottom sur faces with said bearing members, said antifriction Velements having apertures at their inner ends, and a retaining ring extending loosely through said apertures.

2]. An antifrietion bearing comprising relatively oscillatory bearing members and an interposed series vof annularly arranged, closely spaced, antifrietion elements, all of which are adapted to oscillate Simultaneously on axes radial to the axis of oscillation of said bearing members, vand which have rolling contact at their top and bottom surfaeesrwith said bearing members, said antifrictlon elements being flattened "or eut -away at their' sides to form inwardly converging side faces, and means at the outer ends of said elements for spacing the same.

212. An antifrictionv bearing comprising relatively oscillatory bearing members and an interposed series f annularly arranged, eloselyspaeed, antifriction elements, all 'of which are adapted to oscil'late simultaneously on axes radial to the axis of oscillation of said bearing members, and which have rolling Contact at their top and'bottom surfaces with said bearing members, said antifrietion elements being {iat-tened or cut away at their sides to form inwardly converging side faces, said antifriction elements being prvided at their outer ends with pivot studs, andan apertured ringsurrounding said elements and provided with apertures to receive said studs.

23'. An antifriction bearing comprising relatively oscillatory bearing members and an interposed series of annularly arranged,

which are adapted to oscillate simultaneously on axes radial to the axis of oscillation of lsaid bearing members, and which have rolling Contact at ltheir top and bottom surfaces W-itlr said bearing memb.ers said anti- Copies of this patent'niay be obtained for located intermediate said bearin ve cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 4U.

friction elements being flattened or cut away at their sides to form inwardly converging side faces, means at the outer ends of said elements for spacing the same, and means loosely connecting said antifriction elements at the inner ends thereof.

24. ,An antifriction bearing comprising relatively oscillatory bearing members, and an interposed series of annularly arranged,

'closely spaced, a-ntifrietion elements, all of which are adapted to oseillate simultaneously on axes radial to the axis of oscillation of the said bearing members, and which have rolling' `contact at their top and bottom surfaces with said. bearing members, one of said bearing membersI being provided with a plurality of annularly arranged,eurved, bearing surfaces spaced to `correspond `with the antifrietion elements and with which the y.

latter are severally engaged.

25. An antifrietion bearing comprising relatively oscillatory bearing members, and an interposed series of annularly arranged, closely spaced, antifrietion elements, all of which are adapted to oscillate simultane ously on axes radial to the axis of oscillation of said bearing members, and which have rolling contact at their top and bottom Surfaces with said bearing members, one of said bearing members being provided with an annularly arranged series of concave depressions or recesses severally engaged by the bearing' surfaces of said antifrietion elements. l..'

26, An antifriction bearing comprising an interposed series of closely spa-eee,` radi ally disposed, antifrietion elements, all of which are adapted4 to. oscillate on axes members, thecross-section of each antifriction'relement taken at right angles to its axis of oscillation vbeing substantially not in excess of its sectionof transmission.

lrelatively oscillatoryY bearing members and In testimony', that I claim the foregoing as signature in the pres- 4my invention I affix my this 24th day' of Auf gust- A. D. 1907.

EDWIN S.-WOODS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE R. WILKINS, A.M. BUNN.'

Commissioner et Patents, 

